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Paper Wasps (Polistinae)
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Umbrella Paper Wasps (Polistes)
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Subgenus Fuscopolistes (Polistes Subgenus Fuscopolistes)
Photo#254813
Copyright © 2009 Carla Finley
Scale? -
Polistes
Venice, Sarasota County, Florida, USA
Size: about 1/16 inch
I can't seem to find these anywhere. Is it some kind of scale? It is all over our orange and grapefruit trees.
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Contributed by
Carla Finley
on 23 February, 2009 - 7:53pm
Last updated 24 November, 2023 - 1:06pm
Moved
Moved from
Umbrella Paper Wasps
.
…
Jonathan Hoskins
, 24 November, 2023 - 1:06pm
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Moved
Moved from
ID Request
.
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 30 April, 2009 - 9:47pm
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A home for this image?
This is the oldest photo still sitting in ID Request (over 2 months now). I think it is obviously interesting enough to warrant saving for the guide -- but, the question is "where?". I believe the poster's intent was to get an ID on the small white insects, but there might not be enough detail present to be able to be certain of their identity. Martin Hauser has put forth that the fungus victim is a
Polistes
, but it seems a shame to let this image get buried in with all the other unknown paper wasps. I think the most fascinating part of the photo is actually the
Cordyceps fungus
, but of course there is no guide page for that. One idea might be to move this image to
Unsolved bug-related mysteries
, and then also to provide a thumbnail link from the
Parasitic fungi
article. [EDIT: Oops! I see that someone
has
already linked this image to the article.]
I would love to hear input from both the contributor and others as to what they think the best solution is!
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:02pm
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Not Cordyceps
Nor is the link that's labeled as
Cordyceps
fungus. In fact, many references to the genus on BugGuide are in error as there are quite a few entomopathogenic fungi genera besides
Cordyceps
. The genus with species in our area that infect
Polistes
is instead
Ophiocordyceps
(in particularly the species
O. sphecocephala
and
O. humbertii
).
…
Jonathan Hoskins
, 24 November, 2023 - 1:06pm
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Thanks for the correction and additional info!
Hi Jonathan. Yup, my understanding of entomopathogenic fungi was pretty non-existent back then. I console myself with the fact that I was definitely not alone in my ignorance as to the actual diversity present within this group. :) I'm always fascinated to learn a little more wherever I can and most definitely appreciate the insight into which species typically target
Polistes
spp.
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 24 November, 2023 - 1:22pm
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To be fair,
Ophiocordyceps
used to be part of
Cordyceps
, even if they are placed in different families now, and "cordyceps" is still used as a common name for everything that used to be
Cordyceps
, similarly to "aster" as a common name for plants.
…
Charley Eiseman
, 24 November, 2023 - 2:13pm
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Bonus!
Thank you, Charley, for still more fascinating insight into the taxonomic history and naming conventions.
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 24 November, 2023 - 11:55pm
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Thanks
Yes, I was wanting to know the white bugs. But, I have been fascinated with the Cordyceps too. I am leaving this up to you.
…
Carla Finley
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:22pm
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I would like to see it on the
I would like to see it on the insect fungus site....
…
Martin Hauser
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:10pm
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Which site?
This one
? Or are you referring to something else?
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:12pm
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I confused it with the Dipter
I confused it with the Diptera with fungus bugguide site:
http://bugguide.net/node/view/59369/bgimage
Maybe we need to open an new category...
…
Martin Hauser
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:17pm
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Here's a bold suggestion...
From having read
the article
on parasitic fungi, it is obvious that it effects many more insects than just diptera (coleoptera, hymenoptera, lepidoptera, orthoptera, heteroptera and arachnids are all represented thus far). What if we take ALL of the fungus images and lump them into one category that we place as a "No Taxon" listing under Class Insecta at the very end? We have already done this with eggs and leaf mines (see
here
for the reference). Too bold a move? What do others think?
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 30 April, 2009 - 7:29pm
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My vote...
would be to continue filing the images according to the ID of the victim, to the extent an ID is possible, with a link to the fungus article. The article serves the function of collecting all the images in one place--and I'll eventually make it more orderly (say, six months from now when I'm not so busy with fieldwork). Actually,
two
of us have already linked to this image from that article. It seems that
Polistes
is the best placement for this one; I think there is simply not enough detail to do any more than speculate about the ID of the little white bugs.
…
Charley Eiseman
, 30 April, 2009 - 8:24pm
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Agreed!
And, if you want any help organizing the article or finding more images, I'd be happy to assist -- just let me know.
…
Harsi S. Parker
, 30 April, 2009 - 9:50pm
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How about...
citrus mealybug
?
…
Charley Eiseman
, 18 April, 2009 - 3:57pm
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Wow,
looks alot like tiny
Scymnus
larva. I have seen them in bunches like this eating aphids, but a little bigger. Just a guess though.
…
Machele White
, 24 February, 2009 - 7:28am
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Cool a Polistes with Cordycep
Cool a Polistes with Cordyceps ....
…
Martin Hauser
, 23 February, 2009 - 11:27pm
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-
There is a lot going on there. Can't wait to see the discussion.
A fungus victim, a transient spider web and complex spore dispersal mechanism???? Not to mention scale?
…
Matt Edmonds
, 23 February, 2009 - 8:10pm
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Yes, sorry
I couldn't crop the photo any more or it would have been blurry. I'm talking about all those white things not the poor wasp.
…
Carla Finley
, 23 February, 2009 - 8:12pm
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-
I still think a fungus victim page would be cool.
…
Matt Edmonds
, 23 February, 2009 - 8:16pm
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There's a draft article...
... in the guide
here
with other parasitic fungi photos. Perhaps you could post a link to this one?
…
Carmen Champagne
, 23 February, 2009 - 10:15pm
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yes, i agree -- lots of drama
*
…
v belov
, 23 February, 2009 - 9:42pm
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